FR2630315A1 - AUTOMATIC SALES COUNTER FOR RETAIL STORES - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to sales counters. It relates to a sales counter in which a display device 11 placed in front of the customer when he carries out his transactions comprises a touch screen. When the articles subject to the transaction are sold by weight or by piece, the customer can select, from a series of displays, the nature of the articles he is purchasing. These are then transmitted by a conveyor 12 to a security tunnel 15. Application to automatic self-service sales counters.

Description

The present invention generally relates to apparatus and methods

  implemented at sales counters

  without personnel, and it concerns in particular the

  sactions on items sold by weight or piece in self-service, these items having no indication in the form of the universal product code (UPC) placed by the supplier of the items and being sold by weight or piece, as well as other articles bearing a

  UPC coded indication placed by the provider.

  U.S. Patent Nos. 4,676,343

  and 4,792,048 describe automated sales facilities.

  number of articles selected by a customer in

  markets and similar facilities. The first of the two documents relates to a set which concerns articles bearing a coded indication UPC, for example in the form of a bar code representative only of the identity of the item bearing the code. The UPC code of each item chosen for the transaction is analyzed or read and a signal

  representative of the identity of the article is created and trans-

  to a central processing unit which stores, in an associated memory, the UPC codes of all items that are available for sale and which are thus encoded, together with the price and other characteristics of the items, by

example their weight.

  The items are placed on a carrier arranged beyond the UPC code analysis area and arrive in a "security tunnel" which is protected against customer fraud by various light curtains that

  are in the form of light sources and photocells

  associated sensitivities. During the transport of an article, its weight is measured physically and a signal representative of

the measure is created.

  A comparison is then made between the stored signal, representative of the weight, and the measured physical signal. If the comparison gives a negative answer, representative of a potential fraud by a customer, the treatment of the article is interrupted and various actions

  may be implemented, one of them being the

  the conveyor in the opposite direction. In the case

  when the comparison continues to give results.

  the customer's order is executed, the total

  price is ensured from the signals

  memorized, representative of prices.

  In the second of the aforementioned patents, a number of additional security measures are taken for the detection of fraud by customers or

  counter faults. According to one of these additional measures

  the configuration of the article is detected, for example by the light curtain placed at the entrance of the security tunnel. The memory of the central processing unit comprises, with the identity code of the article, a signal

  of autocorrelation corresponding to the configuration of the

  cle. This storage is advantageously performed by the installation itself, for example by storage

  of a detected configuration of articles in preparation mode.

  installation using the supplied signals

by the bright curtains.

  A second additional measure is the repeated reading of the UPC code of the article in the security tunnel

  and its comparison with that of the code read by the apparatus of

  lysis. A lack of correspondence is obtained when the

  comparison gives a negative result.

  A third additional measure is the introductory

  electronic monitoring devices

  ticks in the security tunnel. In this case, the UPC code is stored with an indication that the article

  encoded has an electronic surveillance label

  Picnic. If the department proves that the article has such an electronic surveillance label, the memory indicates that it does not have to include it, for example in the case where a customer fraudulently tries to pass the purchase of an expensive wine. for a less expensive wine by reading the UPC code, a lack of conformity still appears. Difficulty observed in the unmanned sales counters in supermarkets has been

  presented by bulk or non-prepacked goods.

  These goods, such as fruits and vegetables, are arranged in bulk in displays or other compartments so that they can be chosen by the customer and placed in plastic bags distributed at the product's location. For example, the customer chooses the product, places it in the plastic bag, the door to the counter and requires manual assistance for pricing and extraction of the chosen product. The present invention essentially relates to improved facilities and methods for

  sales counters operating without staff.

  The invention also relates to installations and

  processes of the aforementioned type which allow the automatic sale of

  of loose articles which are not prepacked and which

  have no UPC identification code placed by an

  food supermarkets and similar facilities. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of selling items without an operator, the articles including in particular those carrying a UPC code applied by the

  supplier and bulk goods, for example

  dies and the like. In a first improved embodiment of the invention, the bulk items to be processed do not carry a UPC encoded indication.

  of one type or another, that is to say do not have any indica-

  UPC code applied by the supplier or applied locally (in the company). In a second embodiment of the invention, the items to be processed, although they do not have a UPC coded indication applied by the provider, have readable tags applied in the enterprise. These two embodiments also allow the processing of articles having a UPC encoded indication applied by the provider and can be described in

  common in the following manner. They comprise, in combination

  its, an unmanned sales counter for processing

  of selected items for a transaction, these

  articles being of a first type, bearing an indica-

  A vendor-encoded UPC encoded code is a second type that does not carry a vendor-enforced coded-UPC indication, the counter comprising: (a) a reader for generating output signals indicative of an indication to be UPC code representative of an article, when it is present on articles,

  (b) a first part of treatment that can function

  without input by the customer, so that it uses the output signals of the reader for the determination of the item price of the first type and for the creation of output signals representative of that price, (c) a display set interactive for use by the customer for input, so that the operation of the installation is selectively directed

  from the operation of the first part of

  for the calculation of the price of an article of a second type, (d) a balance intended to determine the weight of the article and to create output signals representative of the determined weight, and (e) a second device receiving treatment

  signals entered by the customer using the display device

  to use the signals provided by the Commission.

  balance for the creation of the output signals representing

  price of an article of the second type.

  When the article of the second type chosen for the

  transaction does not carry a UPC coded indication, the display

  chage presents a first message for the transaction

  on items be triggered by the customer. This activity

  usually follows the verification of all items of the first type. More specifically, the second processing part is controlled by interaction between the client and the display during the display of a first

  message so that a second display message is pre-

  This message includes icons representative of items of a second type not bearing a UPC encoded indication, the display being controlled by the interaction between the client and the second display message to create signals. output representative of the icons chosen by the customer. The second processing part comprises a memory which contains first signals representative of the icons and second signals correlated with the first signals and representative of the price per unit weight of the items of the

  second type not bearing a UPC coded indication.

  The second processing part further comprises a comparator for receiving the output signals of the display device and for comparing them with the first stored signals and for generating, as output signals of the second processing part, the second correlated stored signal. to the first memorized signals giving a result

  positive after the comparison. The price thus given is

  read with the weight indication of the article for calculation

the price of the item.

  In the variant in which the articles of the second type which are chosen bear a coded UPC indication which is applied in the enterprise, the second processing part comprises a comparator intended to receive the output signals of the reader and transmits first

  and second separate representative output signals respectively

  because the PC coded indication of the output signals of the reader corresponds to an article sold by weight, and the UPC coded indication of the output signals of the

  reader corresponds to an article sold by the piece.

  In this embodiment, the second processing part includes a memory intended to preserve

  first and second representative stored signals

  the price of the article per unit weight and

  price of the item per piece, these signals being

  linked to the UPC encoded indication of the article. The customer interacts with the display device and is asked to participate, for example by weighing the selected item or by indicating the number of selected items. First and second identification signals are created

  and represent respectively the weight and the number of ar-

  ticks chosen for the transaction. The second part of

  processing also comprises a first computer circuit

  which, after the appearance of the first output signal of the comparator, receives the first stored signal and the

  first identification signal and calculates the price of the

  selected, and a second circuit, operating after receiving the second comparator output signal for receiving the second stored signal and the second signal

  identification, and calculating the price of the

chosen article.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  tion will become more apparent from the following description,

  with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective of a self-service sales counter according to the prior art; Figure 2 is a block diagram of a first embodiment incorporated in the countertop control installation of Figure 1;

  Figures 3 to 7 show an example of

  video displays enabling the customer to select icons corresponding to articles object of a transaction; Figure 8 is a block diagram of the second embodiment in an installation controlling the counter of Figure 1; and

  Figures 9 and 10 are flow diagrams of

  rations implemented in the installation according to the second

embodiment.

  The self-service sales facility according to the

  is intended for the sale of articles that have UPC labels applied by the supplier, such as

  described in the aforementioned patents of the United States of America.

  The parts of such a known installation which are the most important for the invention are shown in FIG. 1. A sales counter 20 comprises a reader 10

  universal product code (UPC) laser, a display of

  11 allowing an interactive communication with a customer, an input conveyor 12, an output conveyor 13, a bagging area 14, a security tunnel, a gate 17 for passage control and a lamp 18

  giving a help request signal.

  Only one cashier and one cash register

  treuse can be used for groups of counters

  each group with at least two counters.

  Each cash register station has a primary screen

  a control panel, a keyboard with a cash drawer, a billboard printer corresponding to the final sales and a display device visible to the customer. of the

  Details of the box are given in the aforementioned patents.

  Most supermarket products have an identification in the form of a UPC-encoded indication, applied by the supplier, identifying the product without

risk of ambiguity.

  When using a sales counter, a customer approaches the counter with the items he wants to buy, usually carrying them in a conventional cart. If the counter is free, the display screen 11

  carries some messages telling the customer how to use

  read the installation. The display screen 11 is preferably

  tactile type, activated by contact of a human finger with any one of a number of locations

  predetermined. The application of a finger on one of the

  This is equivalent to controlling a switch or

  pushing a signal transmission button, and

  with a central processing circuit when an affirmative answer is given to the question displayed on the screen. Suitable responses cause the excitation of the UPC code reader which may be a laser reader

or another type.

  When the reader has been activated, the customer can pass each article, one by one, with its UPC code

  down, above the reader, and may

  In the absence of any problem, the prices and the identifications of the articles appear on the display device 11 when the articles are transported by the carriers in the security tunnel 15, out of reach. from the client and to the bagging zone 14. When all articles have been scanned over the reader 10 and placed on the input conveyor 12, the client touches the touch input location corresponding to the end of the read operations. This causes the client to be presented with a printed receipt from the reception set 6 and displays, preferably on the screen 11, a message telling the customer to pass the control or security gate 17 in the zone 14 of the bagging. When the customer has placed the items in a bag and placed the bags loaded in his cart, he goes to the checkout. Each counter 20 has a

  separately coded identifier allowing its identifica-

  by the cashier. This coded identification appears on the printed receipt presented to the cashier and also appears on the main control screen with a subtotal corresponding to the total of the receipt creation set, temporarily stored in the processor.

central.

  The cashier can use the keyboard to enter a credit corresponding to discount coupons and can

  add items that can not be managed automatically

  20 can be over-sized items that can not pass on the carrier, and it is almost always fruits and vegetables that do not usually carry tags whose price has UPC code readable by the machine. When the cashier makes the entries using her keyboard, the corresponding display gives a visual confirmation to the customer. A final receipt is printed and given by another printer, and the payment is made in a conventional manner.

  For a self-service installation to be effective

  it must have a variety of safeguards that take into account customers' untimely errors, separation of customers, and separation of customer items from those of another customer. The facility must also prevent attempts of fraud or

  installation. For this purpose, a series of electric curtains

  or photoelectric devices 21, a scale 22

  and possibly an arsenal monitor 29

ticles are incorporated. -

  After a satisfactory reading of an article, its

  description and price can be displayed on the screen

  11. Simultaneously, the central processor 23 receives the information from a data memory, concerning the weight

  normal of the article that has just been read. This weight is

  trimmed to that which is determined by the scale 22. If there is a suitable correlation, the carriers 12 and 13 transport the article to the bagging zone 14. If there is a difference, the installation returns the item to

  client so that the read operation is repeated.

  Such an installation has a very efficient operation and is well accepted commercially. Nevertheless, the installation does not allow the processing of items that do not carry a UPC encoded indication applied by the supplier. For example, early vegetables and fruits

  no labels applied by the supplier for this purpose.

  In the first embodiment of installation according to the invention, the situation considered is that in which no UPC coded indication, applied by the supplier or by the company, is worn. by the

selected articles.

  Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment. Those skilled in the art may note that the invention is implemented in a sales counter which also allows the treatment of only

  items that carry UPC code price tags.

  A central processor can be part of a computer

  local, network or remote computer. The

  central processor 23 comprises a memory device

  price data for all items that do not have a machine-readable code, under. form of a memory 24 of price data. The central processor 23 also includes a device for storing icons, ie an image or a graphic symbol, corresponding to each of the articles not bearing machine-readable code, in the form of a memory 25. icons.

  The video monitor 11 constitutes a display device

  icons, as well as additional information.

  The touch screen of the video monitor 11 constitutes a device

  tif that can be ordered by the customer and that selectively displays an icon corresponding to an article placed

on the input carrier 12.

  In use, a customer approaches a sales counter after selecting items with UPC labels and others that do not. FIG. 3 represents an exemplary display 40 of an initial message on a video monitor 11. The screen gives the customer the choice of reading articles having the UPC code tags, transactions on primers, and that is, articles that do not have UPC code tags, request additional instructions, perform the

  transaction, and a request for help. The touch screen

  carries a set of buttons in the form of zones or rectangles

  predetermined signals transmitting signals to the central processor

  tral as a result of contact in the particular area. The displays of the video monitor messages of FIGS. 3-7

  use five zones or blocks, for illustrative purposes only.

  The "buttons" or rectangles are identified by the references

  numerical references 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45.

  When performing the transaction alone for all the primers, a customer placed in front of the display 40 presses the rectangle 42. The operation disables certain security functions associated with the balance 22, and places the installation in a mode suitable for the successive weighing of each of the items transported. The command of the button 42 from the display 40 causes the appearance of an

  display 50 of a message as shown in FIG. 4.

  Display 50 of a message tells the client to select

  general categories of fruits and vegetables, eg fruit, vegetables, green salads and melons. The buttons or rectangles 41, 42, 43 and 44 are each associated with one of these selections. An icon is also associated with each of these categories. The icon 46 can be a fruit basket, the icon 47 a tomato, a cucumber or the like, the icon 48 a lettuce head, and

  the icon 49 a slice of watermelon. The category

  Fruit or early fruit can be selected by contacting one of the buttons 41 to 44 or, in a preferred embodiment, one of the icons 46, 47, 48 or 49. If a customer selects the button 42 or the icon 47, the customer can receive the display 50 of the messages of FIG. 5. For the simplification of the representation, the message display 60 allows the selection between three types of vegetables, tomatoes, corn and apples. earthen. These three selections correspond to the buttons 41, 42 and 43, with corresponding icons 51, 52 and 53. If a customer chooses tomatoes by pressing the button 41 or the icon 51, the customer can receive the display 70 such that represented on

  Figure 6. The display 70 allows the customer to select

  in three types of tomatoes, ie tomatoes

  round, elongated tomatoes and tomatoes for sauce.

  The three types of tomatoes are associated with the buttons 42, 43

  and 44 as well as icons 54, 55 and 56 respectively.

  If the customer then touches the button 43 or the icon, a display 80 as shown in FIG. 7 indicates that he has selected the long tomatoes and their price is 13.5 F / kg. After selection by the customer of

  the correct icon, the item is automatically transported

  the balance and the weight is returned to the

  The latter automatically calculates the price of each item according to the chosen icon, the stored price data and the weight of the article. The display 80 may therefore indicate that the long tomatoes weigh 1.5 kg and that their price is 20 .25 F. The screen can give the customer the possibility of buying more vegetables, to finish the

transaction or to have help.

  Those skilled in the art may note that the primers can be arranged in groups and categories facilitating the quick selection of the icon corresponding to the product by

  the customer. The selections can be sorted by category

  in alphabetical order or even by color. The

  those skilled in the art may note that tacit video displays

  tiles with a large number of "buttons" all over the

  face of the screen can also be used.

  Some security measures may also be appropriate for this mode of operation. A first measurement requires

  comparing the weight of each item with a range of

  set of values so that the selection of erroneous icons

  by the customer is detected. A weight range memory 26 can give upper and lower limits of average weight for the average purchases of the primeurs. For example, a weight of 10 kg may be wrong when the icon of celery has been chosen, while a weight of a few tens of gram may be wrong when the chosen icon is that of watermelon . These anomalies

  cause reverse operation of the

  entry and the display of an instruction indicating

  that the icon needs to be selected again.

  An eventual monitoring facility may

  also be used, with safety doors used

  for the surveillance of articles as described in the aforementioned patents, as well as a video camera 19 which can be remotely controlled and which allows control, at the location of the boxes or at a central security station 31, having a security display 30. When the item

  stopped in the security zone, the description

  the actual article appears in large letters on the video monitor 11 and the actual image of the article,

  with its price and description, appear on the

  at the security checkpoint or checkout counter. The security personnel or the cashier can then order organs allowing the items to continue to progress or

  contrary evacuating them. The video monitor can also

  wear a loudspeaker that announces the item chosen during the calculation. To the extent that some items are more likely to cause customer fraud or error than others, selecting a flagged item may result in a safety inspection whenever a product is flagged.

article is selected.

  We now consider the second mode of

  shown in Figures 8 to 10; Installation

  constitutes a sales outlet without the assistance of

  of an article chosen from among several articles

  for sale, the selected item bearing an indication in the form of a UPC code. The installation includes a UPC code indication reader for creating an output signal representative of this code. An installation

  memory is intended to retain the signals

  UPC codes of all items available for purchase, with the identification of the items as items (1) having a UPC code applied by the manufacturer, (2) having a UPC code applied by the customer or by the customer. retailer, the item being sold by weight, and (3) having a

  UPC code applied by the customer and sold individually.

  In articles of category (1), the processing of the price is carried out in a normal manner, that is to say by implementing the devices described in the aforementioned patents, the price being obtained in the memory which contains

  price data and corresponding UPC codes.

  For items of category (2), the weight is obtained and is multiplied by the price per unit weight, from a memory that contains the price per unit of

weight and the corresponding UPC code.

  In the case of items in category (3), the number of items purchased is determined and this number is multiplied by the price of each item, obtained in the memory which contains the price per item and the corresponding UPC code.

  The determination of the weight of the article and the determination

  number of items purchased can be

  by a device comprising part of the installations

  described in the aforementioned patents, as described in

  following, or can be done in another way.

  Reference is now made to Figure 8; the installations

  110 according to the invention comprises an upper channel 112 made generally as described in the patent

  above, and a lower channel 114 made according to the invention.

  tion. The upper channel 112 has a product selection part 116 in which a customer chooses articles, the broken line 118 indicating the mechanical passage of the individually selected items in front of the UPC code reader 120. The output signal of the reader is transmitted by a user. line 122 to the lower channel 114, and a price storage and totalizing device 124 receives the input signals of the lower channel 114, as described below with reference to the operation of the

lower channel.

  When processing a normal article, that is to say

  when the article has a UPC code applied by the supplier

  as described in the first patent mentioned above, the code

  read, the selected article, and transmitted by a line 126, pro-

  voque obtaining the weight of the article in the memory

  when entering the article in the security tunnel 128

  rite. The comparison is made with the actual measured weight of the selected article, in the product weight storage and comparison set 130, and the result of the comparison (when negative) is transmitted by a line 132 to a circuit 134 which gives a suitable indication of the lack of conformity, probably due to a

customer fraud.

  In carrying out the operations described in the second aforementioned patent, the UPC code identification signal of line 126 arrives at a product shape storage and comparison set 136 which compares the item configuration characteristics. , stored in memory to those obtained by examination of the article, for example which are obtained by passage

  in the aforementioned light curtain associated with the safety tunnel

  described in the aforementioned patents. The UPC code signal may also be transmitted via the line 126 to a second set UPC reading and comparison code 138 in which the UPC code of the article is read again in the security tunnel and is compared to that which was obtained with the 120 drive. In addition, the signal from line 126

  can achieve a set 140 of monitoring memory

  electronic launcher and comparison that works in the manner indicated above. The output signals, when the comparison performed in the sets 136, 138 and 140 gives a negative result, control by a

* line 132 a 134 installation of lack of conformity.

  The lower channel 114 which may be considered a subset of the upper channel installation 112, comprises a UPC code lookup table comparator 142 which receives the UPC code of the line 144, from the reader 120. The comparator 142 contains in memory all the UPC codes corresponding to the above-mentioned categories (1) to (3). The comparator regenerates the normal type UPC code signal, in line 146, when the code lookup table indicates that the UPC code signal corresponds to an item that carries a UPC code, such as a sell signal type. weight, transmitted by line 148, when the table of

  UPC codes indicates that the received signal cor-

  responds to an article having a UPC code applied by the customer and must therefore be sold by weight, and type of a piece sales signal, by line 150, when the UPC code lookup table establishes that the signal corresponds to an article that has a UPC code applied by

  the customer and must be sold by the piece.

  The "normal" signal of the line 146 is transmitted to the circuit 124 of storage of price and totalization and the price of the article is obtained by correlation between the code and the price. The price is then added to the previous subtotal. The "weight" signal of line 148 arrives at the weight price memory 152 which transmits via line 154 an output signal representative of the price per unit weight of the article corresponding to the UPC code of the signal of line 148. Line 156 has a signal representative of the actual weight of the selected article, which may come for example from the set 130 of the upper channel 112, transmitted with the weight signal of a scale placed beneath a conveyor. which carries the articles as described

in the aforementioned patents.

  The signals of lines 154 and 156 are transmitted to an item-priced computer 158 sold by weight, which multiplies the weight by the price per unit weight and thus obtains the price of the selected item. An output signal representative of this price is applied to line 160

  and at an advanced treatment stage carried out in the

  baked 124 of price memorization and totalization, and the

  price is added to the previous total.

  The signal from line 150 of items sold per piece is applied to the price memory 162 of items sold to the part which transmits an output signal, through line 164, representative of the price of articles corresponding to the UPC code. Line 166 transmits a signal that is representative of the actual number of items

  purchased, which can be obtained for example from the

  appears 136 of the upper channel 112 which itself receives a configuration signal of articles of the circuit controlled by

  the input light curtain described in the patents

  cited. The number of articles can also be introduced by

  use of a numeric keypad.

  The signals of lines 164 and 166 arrive at a piece price calculator 168 which multiplies the number of items by the price of the item and gives the total cost. An output signal representative of this cost is transmitted to line 170 and then to an advanced processing step 124 of the storage and summing circuit 124 as described with reference to the signal of the

line 160.

  For example, suppose a customer has chosen half a dozen bananas. The bananas are placed in a bag at the place of selection and carry a UPC code of

  bananas, the indication having been applied previously

  by the store staff or by the customer. Pen

  In the transaction without operator, the code carried by the bag is read and the individual bananas are preferably

  out of the bag and placed individually on the

  tor. When the bananas pass through the light curtain, they are detected individually and their number is counted so that the aforementioned signal is transmitted by the line 166. The operation of the installation is such that

previously described.

  The logical operations implemented in the comparator 142 and the computers 158 are now described.

  and 168, with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 9 and 10.

  The transition to subset 114 begins at step 200.

  At step 202, the UPC code of the article is read. In step 204, the fact that the article is of a standard type, having a UPC code applied by the provider, is determined. If the answer is positive, line 206 leads to step 208 (normal processing). If the response of step 204 is negative, line 210 leads to step 212 which determines whether the article is of the type sold by weight. If the answer is positive, line 214 leads to step 216 which refers to the aforementioned actual weight and the memory giving the relationship between the UPC code and the price

  per unit of weight. The following step 218 multiplies the indica-

  weight by the price per weight. The program passes

  then at step 220 advanced treatment.

  If the response at step 212 is negative, line 222 leads to step 224 which determines whether the article is of the piece-by-piece type. If the answer is positive, line 226 leads to step 228 which refers to the actual number of pieces and to

  the memory linking the UPC code to the price per unit weight.

  In step 230, the number indication is multiplied by the

  price per piece. Line 232 leads to step 220.

  If the article chosen is not included in one of the

  categories (1) to (3), for example when a negative response

  is given to all steps 204, 212 and 224, the line

  234 leads to the error step 236 in which the sub-

  together gives an indication of error to the staff of the

store.

  The dashed lines corresponding to step 238 of FIG. 9 indicate the possibility of the operation of a subset that takes security measures as described in the aforementioned patents. For example, lines 240 and 242 illustrate the implementation of step 238, together with steps 216 and 218, and a weight check.

  of the measured article and the weight drawn from the memory of

  the weight of articles according to the UPC code is

  Lisée. In the absence of this verification, the customer is supposed to have substituted products between the reading and the carrier. Lines 244 and 246 correspond to the possibility of the security measure, in parallel with the

steps 228 and 230.

  Of course, various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to the apparatuses which have just been described solely as non-limiting examples.

  without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (11)

  1. Unmanned desk-top facility for the processing of items selected for transactions and belonging to a first type bearing a UPC code indication applied by the supplier and to a second type bearing no UPC encoded indication applied by a supplier. provider, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a reader (10) for creating signals   representative of a coded item UPC indication, when   it is present on articles, (b) a first processing device (23) intended to operate without customer input and to use the output signals of the reader (10) for determining the price of items of a first type and the creation of representative output signals,   (c) an interactive display device (11) for   adapted to be used by the customer to direct the operation of the installation selectively from operation under the control of the first processing device to an operation for calculating the price of items of the second type, (d ) a scale (22) to determine the weight   of the article and to create representative output signals. determined weight, and   (e) a second processing device (23)   following a customer input to the display device for using the output signals of the balance for signal generation   representative of the price of articles of the second type.   2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized   in that it further comprises: (f) a conveyor (12) for receiving the articles and transporting them to the scale, the first processing device (23) being further intended to determine whether the article read by the reader is the one that has been weighed by the scale and to create additional output signals representative of a lack of conformity, and (g) a control device intended to reverse the direction of movement of the conveyor as a function of signals   additional output of the first processing device ment.   3. Installation according to claim 2, characterized   in that it further comprises a summing device (23) for receiving the first output signals of the first processing device and the output signals of the second processing device and   intended to give a total price of selected articles.   4. Installation according to claim 1, characterized   in that the articles of the second type do not carry a UPC code indication, the display device (11) presenting a first message (50) corresponding to a transaction initiated by the customer and relating to articles of the second type with no UPC code indication.   5. Installation according to claim 4, characterized   in that the second treatment device (23)   works by interacting with the customer using the   positive display (11) during the display of the first message so that it displays a second message comprising icons representative of articles of the second type not bearing UPC code indication, the display device being controlled interactively by the customer when he carries the second message so that he creates signals from   representative output of icons chosen by the customer.   6. Installation according to claim 5, characterized   in that the second processing device (23) comprises a memory (24, 25) retaining first signals representative of the icons and second signals correlated to the first signals and representative of the price of articles of the second type not having UPC code indication.   7. Installation according to claim 6, characterized   in that the second processing device (23) comprises a comparator for receiving the   output of the display device, to compare them with the first   stored signals and to create the output signals of the second processing device, the second stored signal correlates with the first stored signals giving a result. affirmative to the comparison.   8. Installation according to claim 1, characterized   in that the articles of the second type bear a   UPC code indication that is not applied by the furnace   the second processing device (23) comprising a comparator for receiving the output signals from the reader and for transmitting first and second separate output signals respectively representative of the fact that the UPC code indication of the output signals of the reader   corresponds to an article sold by weight and because the   UPC code of the output signals of the corresponding reader.   respond to an article sold by the piece.   9. Installation according to claim 8, characterized   in that the second processing device (23) includes a memory for storing the first and second signals representative respectively of the price per unit weight and the piece price, these indications being   correlated to an article UPC code indication.   10. Installation according to claim 9, characterized   in that the second processing device further comprises a device for transmitting first and second identification signals which are representative   weight and number of items selected.   11. Installation according to claim 10, characterized   in that the second processing device (23) furthermore comprises a first computing device which, when the first output signal of the comparator appears, is intended to receive the first stored signal and the first signal of identifying and calculating the price of the selected article, and a second computing device which, under the control of the second output of the comparator, is for receiving the second stored signal and the second identification signal and calculating the price of the article chosen.